DEARBORN, I'M ASHLEE BARACY, LOCAL 4. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! Guy: INDEED, IT IS. A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY SPENT IN HELPING DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRY TO GET ITS FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER. Priya: EVEN AFTER TWO EMERGENCY MANAGERS, A DEFICIT OF $120 MILLION REMAINS. Guy: AND THAT COULD MEAN MORE CLOSURES IN 2015, A LOOK AT THE TOUGH DECISIONS FACING THE DISTRICT AND THE SUGGESTION OF SHUTTERED SCHOOLS PUTS PARENTS ON EDGE, AS SCHOOLS ARE STRIPPED OF THEIR VALUABLES. Will: NEIGHBORS DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE OF THESE EYESORES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. DPS WILL BE CLOSING SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL TROUBLES. MATTHEW TAYLOR'S DAUGHTER ALEXIS IS A STUDENT AT A DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL AND IS CONCERNED HOW THE DISTRICT WILL GET OUT OF A $120 MILLION FINANCIAL HOLE AND DOESN'T WANT IT TO COME AT THE EXPENSE OF HER NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL. IT'S RIGHT UP THE STREET. YOU KNOW, A COUPLE BLOCKS OVER. SHE CAN GET THERE. AND IF ANYTHING HAPPEN, I CAN GET THERE, TOO. Will: DPS PLANS TO MEET WITH EDUCATION OFFICIALS ON TUESDAY TO DISCUSS THE DEFICIT ELIMINATION PLAN SUBMITTED LAST MONTH. THE DISTRICT IS CONSIDERING 40-PLUS PROPOSALS INCLUDING CLOSING AND CONSOLIDATING SCHOOLS. LITTLE ALEXIS DOESN'T SUPPORT THAT. I LOVE MY SCHOOL. Will: WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT? IT'S BIG, IT'S CLEAN ON THE INSIDE. Will: YOU LIKE THE TEACHERS? UH-HUH. Will: SHUFFLES STUDENTS AROUND TO OTHER SCHOOLS IS NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN. THE MONEY WOULD IT SAVE IS NOT WORTH THE COST TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS. IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO STABILIZE OUR ENROLLMENT AS WE DID THIS PAST YEAR, THERE IS LESS NEED FOR CONSOLIDATION, HOPEFULLY NO CONSOLIDATION IN THE FUTURE YEARS. Will: IT IS BELIEVED DPS WILL GO FROM RED TO BLACK IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. WILL IT TAKE SACRIFICE, OF COURSE, IT WILL. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE THE DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE CHILDREN IN DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Will: THAT MEETING IS TOMORROW IN LANSING TO DISCUSS THE DEFICIT ELIMINATION PLAN. THE MEETING IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, BUT ONCE THEY WORK OUT THE DETAILS, IT WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC. LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE, WILL JONES, LOCAL 4. Guy: WHAT IS THE TIME LINE ON APPROVING THIS DEFICIT ELIMINATION PLAN? Will: THERE'S NO TIME LINE. THEY'LL WORK UNTIL THEY GET THIS DEFICIT ELIMINATION PLAN RIGHT. ONCE THEY APPROVE THE PLAN, IT IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, SO THINGS WILL CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

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